On a day that further safety restrictions were announced, Ireland has reported new cases.
7,836 new Covid-19 cases have been confirmed, as well as 17 further deaths.
This is yet another record high number of daily confirmed new cases.
The Republic of Ireland's Covid death toll now stands at 2,299.
The number of people being treated for the virus in intensive care is now at 88, a number which has
quadrupled since Christmas Eve.
2,263 of Wednesday's cases are in Dublin, while 1,373 are in Cork, 496 are in Louth, 345 are in Limerick, and 340 are in Meath. The remainder are spread across all other counties.
Chief Medical Officer Tony Holohan once again urged people to stay at home, saying: "
The country is in a serious phase of this surge of Covid-19.
"There is evidence of an increasing presence of the UK variant in Ireland. All counties have an upward trajectory of the disease. There is concerning escalation of admissions to hospital and ICU.
"It has never been more important, throughout our experience of this pandemic, to stay home and only meet people outside of your household for essential purposes, always adhering to public health advice."
Holohan predicted an increase in deaths, saying: "We are very likely to see escalating mortality and ICU admissions in the coming days and weeks."
Earlier on Wednesday, Northern Ireland's Department of Health reported 1,985 new Covid cases, as well as 13 further deaths up north.
This comes on the same day that Ireland confirmed a number of new lockdown restrictions, which you can read more about
here.
